A Prayer About Eating Soul Food
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. Isaiah 55:1-3
Most gracious Father, I praise you today for the simple pleasure of eating. I guess you could’ve created us to receive the needed nutrients in some other way, but you are the fountain of pleasures, and thus, feasting is one of the many delights we get to enjoy.
Right now I’m thinking about pan-seared Pompano, a well chosen white wine, a fresh mango salad, sweet potato fries, grilled asparagus and some fresh pistachio gelato to finish off the banquet… all of this, of course, shared with about 25 good friends and family members.
Alas, like all of your good gifts, the very privilege of eating is also broken, and I’m a poor steward of my thirst and hunger. Too much of the time, Father, I’m a hungry man standing in front of all kinds of refrigerators, real and metaphorical, demanding instant gratification. I’ll grab whatever drink I think will slake my thirst, and I’ll eat whatever bread will make me full in the moment. Like Esau, a bowl of steaming oatmeal in my hand holds more power than the promise of a sumptuous feast. Oh, foolish man that I am… I’m never really satisfied when I binge on the snack foods, the fast foods of my own lusts.
But, dear Father, you’re always beckoning me to the only feast that will satisfy the deepest thirst and the seemingly insatiable hunger of my soul. You’ve spread before me the gospel-feast of your Son, Jesus, and the whole bountiful banquet has already been paid for, in full. Incline my ears to listen more attentively to your dinner bell. You designed me for delights you alone can satisfy.
Lord Jesus, you’re the Bread of Life and the giver of living water. You’re the richest fare the Father has promised. You’re not a chalked-in special-of-the day at the dinner. Whatever else I’m consuming, if I’m not regularly feasting on you in the gospel, I’m a deluded and dangerous man. And I’m an absolute moron to neglect the very means of grace in which you meet me and by which you feed me-the Scriptures, prayer, fellowship, private and corporate worship, service, the Eucharist…the firstfruits and foretaste of the meal from which all banqueting derives its meaning, the wedding feast of the Lamb (Rev. 19).
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed us till we want no more. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ name.
